Photographic flash-lighting.



H. E. OOSTON.

PHOTOGRAPHIG FLASH LIGHTING. APPLIGATIOK FILED NOV. 11, 1912.'

1,059,278; Patented Apr. 15, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Fig.1.

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H. E. GOSTON.

PHOTOGRAPHIG FLASH LIGHTING.

uruoumn run-1) NOV. 11, 1912.

1,059,278. Patented Apr. 15, 1913.

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HERBERT ERNEST COSTON, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

PHOTOGRAPHIC FLASH-LIGHTING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 15, 1 913.

Application filed November 11, 1912. Serial No. 730,617.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HERBERT ERNEsT Cos- TON,a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and residing atDover street,

London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inand Belating to Photographic Flash-Lighting, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to means for Ohtaining instantaneously a stronglight diffused over a large area for photographic or like purposes. Thishas been sought to be obtained by igniting portions of magnesium orother illuminating powder distributed at several points, butconsiderable difiiculty has been experienced in obtaining reallysimultaneous ignition of the various portions. One electrical methodproposed is to use electric fuses one for each portion, while anotherproposed is to use a corresponding number of spark gaps arranged inparallel. It has been found that neither of these methods givessufficiently simultaneous ignitions for the purpose required, and theprincipal object of this invention is to secure the requiredsimultaneity.

The invention consists for this purpose in means for simultaneouslyigniting a number of portions of magnesium powder or.

like illuminating material, said means comprising a high tensionelectric current which is caused to spark across a number of gapsarranged in series to efl'ect the several ignitions, said gaps and thedistribution of" powder in their vicinity being similar so as to obtainpractically equal rates of combustion of each of the portions of powder.

The invention also consists in the means for instantaneously andcorrespondingly igniting a number of supplies of illuminating materialupon trays or like surfaces within a translucent chamber.

The invention further consists in flash lighting apparatus in which thesparking effect. Figs. 3 and a represent plan and elevation partly insection of one of the trays or tables for carrying the illuminatingpowder. Fig. ,5 shows a modified form of the molding device.

In carrying this invention into effect in one manner as showndiagrammatically in Figs. 1 and 2, a rectangular chamber or surroundingscreen covered with treated silk or other suitable and preferablynon-inflammable material is provided with trays, a, carrying theilluminating material. The front and any other desired parts of thescreen are translucent and the back is prochamber. and discharging theminto a flexible pipe or conduit by which they may be conducted outof theroom through any suitable opening. The chamber may be constructed in anypreferred manner and may be portable or otherwise as desired, the

'trays being supported from the sides of the chamber or upon independentsupports as may be found most convenient.

The trays 0r plates, 01, shown in detail in I igs. 3 and 4 are formed ofsilica or other suitable fire-resisting material and are fitted with apair of sparking terminals, a, capable of a small pivotal movement abouttheir axes, and provided with adjustable horizontal rods or electrodes,6, or other suitable means for producing a spark of simi lar length ateach tray upon the passage of a high tension electric current. Theterminals are connected by means of the conductors, 7', shown broken offin the drawing ,with a high tension coil or other suitable means forcreating an electric current, the arrangement being such that each pairof terminals form a gap, the gaps being in series in the circuit. v

One of eachpair of the electrodes, 6, is formed with a pointed end, theother having a substantially fiat end and being provided with a looselyfitting hollow cylindrical member, g, provided with a handle, it, toeffect its easy removal from the electrode.

In preparing the apparatus for use equal quantities of powder are placedupon each of the trays or plates in such a manner as to cover thepointed electrodes and to lie in a. substantially similar way upon andaround the removable collars upon the other electrodes. which will leavethe powder in substantially the same configuration with regard to eachof the electrodes and in such a condition that on the passing of anelectric current a similar spark will be produced at each of the gaps.

In place of the removable collar the terminal may be provided with ahinged plate, a, as shown in Fig. 5. This plate stands out horizontallyabove one of the electrodes and terminates in a bent down portionstanding in front of the end thereof, so as to form a screen for theelectrode. While the hinged plate is in this position the end preventsany material placed upon the tray coming in contact with the electrode,but when turned up about its hinged connection it leaves the electrodeexposed. In this case in preparing the apparatus the hinged plate isturned down over the one electrode and the magnesium or otherilluminating powder is placed upon the tray covering, the otherelectrode and in contact with the turned-down portion of the hingedplate. On lifting the plate the powder will slip down in an in clinedposition in front of the end of the first electrode and so the powderand the electrodes will occupy similar positions with regard to ,oneanother'in the case of each of the trays in the same manner as in thefirst described form ofthe invention.

In passing an electric current through the circuit it will be met by anequal resistance 'at each of the gaps resulting in the production ofsparks of equal magnitude and intensity, and as the'powder will be insimilar quantities and disposition with regard to each of the sparkscorresponding inflammation and combustion will occur in all of the trayssimultaneously. Any number of trays for the powder may be provided andarranged in any suitable. manner within the screen or chamber, theconstruction of which may be optional having regard to the fact that auniform-illumination of all the surface of the screen is required, andthat the screen shall effectually retain the products of combustion ofthe illuminating material and prevent their dispersion in the surrounding atmosphere. -It:is clear that many modifications may be made inthe details ofthe apparatus and in the manner of carrying the inventioninto effect without iii-any waydeparting from the spirit of the same. I

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desiretoseCure by Let ters Patent is 1. In combination in a flash-lighting'ap- The loose collars are then removed,

'multaneously igniting paratus, a high tension electric circuit, aplurality of receptacles for illuminating material, a similar pair ofsparking terminals fitted to each of said receptacles and connected inseries in said circuit, and a removable molding device co-acting witheach of said pairs of terminals to distribute illuminating material in asimilar configuration with regard thereto.

2. In combination in aflash-lighting apparatus, a high tension electriccircuit, a plurality of receptacles for illuminating material, a similarpair of sparking terminals fitted to each of said receptacles, andconnected in series in said circuit, movable rods included in saidterminals, whereby the length of spark is adjusted, and a member easilyfitting one of said rods and removable therefrom to distributeilluminating material in a similar configuration at each sparking place.7

3. In combination in a flash-lighting apparatus, a translucent chamber,a high tension electric circuit, a plurality of gaseous portions inseries in said circuit, and positioned within said chamber, means forpassing a current through said circuit, means for equalizing theresistance of said gaseous por tions, means for positioning illuminatingmaterial or the like at said gaseous portions and means for securing alike distribution of said material at eachposition.

4. In combination in a flash-lighting apparatus, a translucent chamber,a plurality of non-combustible trays within said chamber, a pair ofterminals fitted to each of said trays, adjustable sparking rodsincluded in said terminals, a source of high tension electric current,leads connecting said terminals and source of current whereby said pairsof terminals form sparking gaps and wear-- ranged in series in acircuit, and means for distributing illuminating material in a similarmanner with regard to each sparking gap.

5. In a flash lighting apparatus, a plurality of trays, means forpositioning illuminating material in like manner on said trays, saidmeans being movable with re spect to the illuminating materialtoposition same on the trays, and means for Si the trays' U i Intestimony-whereof I have signed my name to this specificationin thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

, HERBERT nanasrcosrou. Witnesses:

IV. J. MGARTHUR, A. J. LINDEN.

the material on all oi

